CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU. 

A.  S.  COOPER,  State  Mineralogist. 

BULLETIN  No.  20.  San  Francisco,  December,  1900. 


^ 

vw 


SYNOPSIS  OF  GENERAL  REPORT 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU, 


By  W.  L.  WATTS,  E.M. 


Published  under  the  Direction  of  HENRY  t!  GAGE,  Governor  of  the  Skte  of  California. 


SACRAMENTO: 
A.  J.  JOHNSTON,     :     :      :     :     superintendent  state  printing. 

1901. 


— ^ 


i 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU. 

A.  S.  COOPER,  State  Mineralogist. 

BULLETIN  No.  20.  San  Francisco,  December,  1900. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  GENERAL  REPORT 


CALirORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU, 


By  MT.  L.  "WATTS,  E.M. 


Published  uoder  the  Direction  of  HENRY  T.  GAGE,  Governor  of  the  State  of  California. 


SACRAMENTO: 
A.  J.  JOHNSTON,     :     :      :     :     superintendent  state  printing. 

1901. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


To  His  Excellency  Henry  T.  Gage,  Governor  of  the  State  of  California-, 
The  Honorable  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  State  Mining 
Bureau;  and  Hon.  A.  S.  Cooper,  State  Mineralogist: 

Gentlemen:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  my  report  on  work 
done  as  prescribed  under  Chapter  XCV,  Statutes  of  California,  1899,  in 
that  portion  of  the  section  relative  to  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  which 
provides  "  that  twenty  thousand  dollars  shall  be  expended  in  making  a 
practical  and  scientific  examination  of  the  Mother  Lode  and  other 
mineral  districts  of  California,  including  the  oil-districts,  and  preparing 
a  brief  and  accurate  history  of  such  districts  and  the  development, 
product,  resources,  methods  of  working,  and  future  possibilities  of  the 
mining  and  oil  industries  of  California,  such  examinations  to  be  made 
by  competent  experts  experienced  in  California  mining,  and  assistants; 
all  of  whom  shall  be  appointed  and  their  compensation  fixed  by  the 
Governor." 

In  accordance  with  the  tenor  of  the  enactment  cited,  the  work  was 
divided  under  three  heads,  namely:  The  Mother  Lode  Region,  The  Oil 
and  Gas  Yielding  Formations,  and  Other  Mineral  Districts  of  California. 

The  last-mentioned  division  of  the  work  included  a  general  recon- 
naissance of  the  State,  in  order  that  a  record  might  be  made  showing 
the  present  status  of  the  mining  industry  of  California,  which  had  not 
been  reported  on  since  1896,  except  in  our  annual  statistical  bulletins. 

The  Mother  Lode  region  was  investigated  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Storms,  who 
prepared  a  bulletin  on  the  subject. 

The  oil-districts  were  investigated  by  Mr.  W.  L.  Watts,  the  writer  of 
this  report,  who  prepared  a  bulletin  on  "  The  Oil  and  Gas  Yielding 
Formations  of  California." 

Although  both  the  time  and  the  means  available  were  very  limited,  a 
general  reconnaissance  was  made  of  every  county  in  the  State,  and  a 
report  was  prepared  showing  in  as  detailed  a  manner  as  time  and  cir- 
cumstances would  permit  the  condition  of  the  mining  and  mineral 
industry.* 

..  The  gentlemen  who  participated  in  the  work  are  as  follows:     Mr. 
Stephen  Bowers,  who  visited  Alpine,  Butte,  portion  of  Fresno,  Inyo,  a 


*It  is  in  order  to  draw  attention  to  the  fact  that,  with  the  exception  of  Texas,  Cali- 
fornia is  the  largest  State  in  the  Union,  it  having  an  area  of  about  157,456  square  miles. 
The  $20,000  provided  for  investigating  this  area  and  making  a  record  of  its  mining  indus- 
tries and  mineral  products  represents  less  than  one  twenty-eighth  of  one  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  those  mineral  products  for  the  two  years  ending  December,  1899. 


4  STATE    MINING   BUREAU. 

portion  of  Kern,  Lake,  Lassen,  Madera,  Mendocino,  Merced,  Modoc, 
Mono,  Plumas,  Riverside,  San  Bernardino,  San  Diego,  Tulare,  and  Yuba 
counties;  Mr.  F.  M.  Anderson,  who  visited  Del  Norte,  Humboldt,  Sis- 
kiyou, and  Trinity  counties;  Mr.  Lewis  H.  Eddy,  who  visited  Alameda, 
San  Mateo,  Santa  Clara,  Santa  Cruz,  Shasta,  and  Sierra  counties;  Mr. 
George  A.  Tweedy,  who  visited  Colusa,  Glenn,  part  of  Kern,  Monterey, 
Sacramento,  San  Benito,  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  Yolo  counties;  Mr.  W.  H. 
Storms,  who  visited  Amador,  Calaveras,  El  Dorado,  Mariposa,  Nevada, 
Placer,  and  Tuolumne  counties;  Mr.  W.  L.  Watts,  who  visited  Los 
Angeles,  Orange,  Ventura,  Santa  Barbara,  part  of  Kern,  Kings,  part  of 
Fresno,  and  part  of  Monterey  counties;  Mr.  P.  J.  Healy,  who  visited 
Marin,  Contra  Costa,  and  San  Francisco  counties;  and  Mr.  H.  C.  B. 
Co  well,  who  assisted  in  the  editorial  work.  It  is  only  justice  here  to 
mention  the  name  of  Mr.  W.  F.  Preston,  of  the  State  Printing  Office  at 
Sacramento,  whose  care  and  ability  have  greatly  added  to  the  typo- 
graphical excellence  of  our  publications. 

At  this  writing.  Bulletin  No.  18,  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Storms,  entitled  "The 
Mother  Lode  Region,"  and  Bulletin  No.  19,  by  Mr.  W.  L.  Watts,  en- 
titled "The  Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  California,"  are 
printed;  and  the  General  Report  on  the  different  counties  of  the  State  is 
in  the  hands  of  the  printer,  but  there  are  no  funds  wherewith  to  print  it. 

Since  the  General  Report  could  not  be  printed  owing  to  lack  of  funds, 
the  writer  prepared  Bulletin  No.  20,  from  the  manuscript  of  the  General 
Report  and  from  the  statistical  bulletins  for  1896,  '97,  '98,  and  '99,  com- 
piled by  Mr.  Chas.  G.  Yale,  Statistician  to  the  California  State  Mining 
Bureau. 

The  object  of  this  bulletin  is  to  show  in  general  terms  the  condition 
of  the  mining  industry  of  California,  the  rate  of  its  advance  and  the 
lines  along  which  the  advance  has  been  made  since  1896,  together  with 
the  relative  importance  of  the  various  mineral  products. 

It  has  been  necessary  so  to  condense  the  statements  made  that  they 
might  be  printed  without  exceeding  the  meager  balance  remaining  in 
the  printing  fund  of  the  Mining  Bureau. 

Most  respectfully  yours, 

W.  L.  WATTS. 


PROGRESS  OF  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  IN  CALIFORNIA 

FOR  THE  FOUR  YEARS  ENDING  DECEMBER,  1899. 


The  value  of  the  mineral  products  of  California  for  1899  was 
$29,313,460.  This  sum  exceeds  the  value  of  the  entire  crop  of  wheat 
and  barley  in  California  for  that  year,  although  the  crop  of  1899  was 
an  exceptionally  large  one. 

Throughout  the  State  there  are  more  than  1500  mines,  either  in  active 
operation  or  at  which  development  work  is  carried  on.  A  large  pro- 
portion of  these  mines  are  productive.  Of  the  total  number  of  mines 
reported  there  are,  approximately,  700  quartz  mines,  300  placer  mines, 
210  hydraulic  mines,  120  drift  mines,  and  52  copper  mines.  Of  these 
there  are  about  20  w'hich  produce  silver;  there  are  also  34  quicksilver 
mines. 

The  rate  of  advance  of  the  mining  interests  of  California,  and  the  lines 
along  which  this  advance  has  been  made,  can  be  seen  by  the  tables 
included  in  this  bulletin. 

Table  No.  1  shows  the  total  value  of  the  mineral  products  of  California 
for  the  years  1896,  ^97,  '98,  '99,  and  the  relative  value  of  the  outputs  of 
(1)  precious  metals;  (2)  base  metals  and  platinum;  (3)  petroleum; 
(4)  structural  materials;  and  (5)  those  minerals  classed  under  the  head 
of  "Other  Minerals." 

TABLE  No.  1. 


1896. 


1897. 


1898. 


1899. 


Precious  metals 
(gold  and  sil- 
ver)..  

Base       metals 
(antimony, 
copper,  lead, 
quicksilver, 
and        plati- 
num)   

Petroleum  (as- 
phaltum,  bi- 
tuminous 
rock,  gas,  oil) 

Structural  ma- 
terials   

Other  minerals 

Total  value.. 


$17,604,026  30 

72.47% 

$16,324,190 

1,317,036  70 

5.42 

2,558.775 

1,777,340  00 

7.31 

2,513,449 

2,160,272  00 

8.89 

1,811,023 

1,432,723  00 

5.89 

1,935,004 

$24,291,398  00 

$25,142,441 

64.92^ 


10.17 


$16,320,553 


3,690,701 


9.99  j     3,070,594 

7.20       2,093,379 
7  69       2,113,872 


;  $27,289,079 


59.80% 


13.52 


11.25 

7.67 

7.74 


$15,840,043 


5,441,521 


3,180,020 


2,382,347 


54.03% 


18.56 


10.84 

8.12 
8.42 


$29,313,460  \. 


6 


STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 


In  this  table,  under  the  head  of  ^' Other  Minerals,"  are  included 
borax,  coal,  mineral  waters,  salt,  asbestos,  gypsum,  magnesite,  sulphur, 
soda,  pyrites,  mineral  paint,  chromite,  manganese,  Fuller's  earth,  and 
lithia  mica.  "  Structural  Materials  "  include  lime  and  cement,  lime- 
stone, granite,  sandstone,  marble,  California  "onyx,"  quartz  sand,  glass 
sand,  serpentine,  slate,  macadam,  rubble  and  paving  blocks,  and  bricks 
and  pottery. 

From  the  foregoing  table  it  is  apparent  that  during  the  past  four 
years  the  value  of  the  gold  and  silver  product  has  decreased  both  in 
quantity  and  in  relation  to  the  other  mineral  products  of  the  State. 

The  decline  in  absolute  value  is  due  principally  to  the  scarcity  of 
water  for  mining  and  milling,  resulting  from  a  series  of  comparatively 
dry  winters.  The  decline  in  the  relative  value  of  the  gold  and  silver 
output  as  compared  with  the  value  of  the  output  of  other  minerals  is 
due  to  the  great  advance  in  the  production  of  copper,  quicksilver,  petro- 
leum, and  coal. 

It  is  in  order  briefly  to  review  the  status  of  the  different  mineral 
industries  of  California. 

PRECIOUS  METALS. 


(Gold  and  Silver  ) 

Although  the  output  of  gold  and  silver  during  the  past  four  years 
shows  an  absolute  decline  of  about  10%  and  a  relative  decline  of  about 
18%  as  compared  with  the  output  of  other  minerals,  gold  and  silver 
mining  continues  to  be  by  far  the  most  important  mineral  industry  of 
the  State,  and  the  value  of  these  metals  constitutes  more  than  one  half 
of  that  of  the  total  mineral  product.  Table  No.  2  shows  the  absolute 
and  the  relative  value  of  gold  and  silver  produced  in  1896,  '97,  '98,  '99. 

TABLE  No.  2.     PRECIOUS  METALS. 


189G. 

1897. 

1898. 

1899. 

Gold 

Silver 

117,181,562  70 
422,463  60 

97.60% 
2.39 

$15,871,401 
452,789 

97.22% 
2.77 

$1,5,906,478 
4U,055 

97.46% 
2.53 

$15,336,031 
504,012 

96.81% 
3.18 

Totals.... 

117,604,026  30 

...... 

$16,324,190 

$16,320,533 

$15,840,043 

Thus  it  is  seen  that  during  the  past  four  years  the  average  value  of 
the  output  of  gold  and  silver  in  California  has  been  more  than  sixteen 
and  half  millions  of  dollars,  and  of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  gold  has 
represented  more  than  97%  of  the  total  amount.* 


*The  figures  given  for  the  output  of  silver  are  a  little  too  low,  owing  to  the  fact  tlmt 
in  many  returns  small  amounts  of  silver  are  not  separated  from  the  gold. 


PROGRESS    OF    MINERAL    INDUSTRY    IN    CALIFORNIA. 


As  previously  shown,  there  are,  all  told,  about  1330  gold  mines  at 
which  work  is  carried  on.  Supported  by  these  mines  there  are  about 
300  mills,  dropping  about  4,000  stamps;  136  concentrators,  10  chlori- 
nation  plants,  3  canvas  plants,  44  arrastras,  34  cyanide  plants,  and  6 
slimes  plants,  also  one  smelter  and  refinery  at  which  ores  from  California 
and  elsewhere  are  treated. 

The  power  used  at  these  plants  is  as  follows:  Water  at  106,  steam  at 
117,  electricity  at  21,  compressed-air  at  43,  gasoline  at  14,  horse-power 
at  19.  The  mechanical  appliances  used  are  shown  to  be:  21  power- 
drill  plants,  65  hoists,  17  whims,  12,580'  of  wire  tramways,  150  miles  of 
ditches  and  flumes,  and  150,000'  of  water-pipe.  There  are  also  reported 
two  elevators  used  in  placer  mining,  and  one  lixiviation  works.  About 
20,000  men  are  employed  in  gold  and  silver  mining  in  this  State. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  during  1900  dredge  mining  has  been  actively 
prosecuted  in  several  localities,  and  it  is  said  that  the  results  are  very 
satisfactory. 

BASE  METALS  AND   PLATINUM. 

As  shown  in  Table  No.  1 ,  the  production  of  this  group  of  metals  has 
greatly  increased  the  value  of  the  output  for  1899,  constituting  18.56% 
of  the  value  of  the  total  mineral  product  of  the  State.  The  base  metals 
included  under  this  head  are  antimony,  copper,  lead,  and  quicksilver. 

Table  No.  3  shows  the  absolute  and  relative  value  of  the  output  of 
the  base  metals  and  platinum  for  the  years  1896,  '97,  '98,  and  '99. 

TABLE  No.  3.     BASE  METALS   AND   PLATINUM. 


1896. 

1897. 

1898. 

1899. 

Antimony 

Copper 

Lead             .  . 

$2,320  00 

199,518  70 

38,805  00 

1,075,449  00 

944  00 

.17% 

15.14 

2.94 

81.66 

.09 

$3,500 

1,540,666 

20,264 

993,445 

900 

.13% 
60.21 

.79 
38.82 

.03 

$1,200 
2,475,168 

23,907 

1,188,626 

1,800 

.03% 
67.06 

.64 
32.20 

.04 

$13,500 

3,990,534 

30.642 

1,405,045 

1,800 

.24% 
73.33 
.56 

Quicksilver  ... 
Platinum 

25.82 
.03 

Totals    

$1,317,037  70 

$2,558,775 

$3,690,701 

$5,441,521 

It  is  noticeable  that  the  increase  in  the  value  of  the  base  metals  pro- 
duced in  California  arises  from  a  great  advance  in  the  production  of 
copper  and  quicksilver. 

As  shown  in  Table  No.  3,  the  value  of  the  output  of  copper  in  1896 
was  nearly  $200,000;  of  this  amount  Shasta  County  produced  more 
than  92%,  the  remainder  coming  from  Nevada,  Calaveras,  and  Amador 
counties. 

In  1897  the  value  of  the  copper  output  was  reported  as  $1,540,666, 
and  of  this  amount  $1,535,966  must  be  credited  to  Shasta  County. 


8  STATE    MINING   BUREAU. 

In  the  Statistical  Bulletin  published  by  the  Mining  Bureau  in  1898, 
five  counties  are  shown  to  have  produced  copper:  Amador,  5l>300;  Cala- 
veras, $2,052;  Shasta,  $2,465,830;  Inyo,  $3,986;  Nevada,  $3,000;  the 
total,  $2,475,168,  being  an  increase  of  nearly  $1,000,000  over  the  output 
of  1897. 

The  Statistical  Bulletin  for  1899  shows  that  copper  w^as  produced  in 
four  counties:  Shasta,  $3,565,023;  San  Bernardino,  $232,329;  Cala- 
veras, $27,586;  Nevada,  $7,084;  unapportioned,  $158,502;  the  total, 
$3,990,534,  being  an  increase  in  two  years  of  about  two  and  a  half 
millions  of  dollars. 

The  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist  for  1896  showed  three  producing 
copper  mines,  one  in  each  of  the  following  counties:  Shasta,  Amador, 
and  San  Bernardino;  also  14  other  copper  mines  in  course  of  develop- 
ment; 1260  men  being  employed. 

In  1896  there  were  3  copper  smelters  in  operation  in  California. ' 

In  1900  there  were  f(!)und  to  be  13  productive  copper  mines,  and  30 
mines  in  the  course  of  development.  Copper  mining,  including  both 
the  operative  and  developing  stages,  was  carried  on  in  twelve  counties, 
about  1900  men  being  employed.  There  were  7  copper  smelters  in 
operation,  having  an  aggregate  capacity  of  about  1500  tons,  and  at  this 
writing  still  another  copper  smelter  is  practically  completed. 

QUICKSILVER. 

Table  No.  3  shows  that  the  value  of  the  output  of  quicksilver  has 
increased  more  than  30%  during  the  past  four  years,  although  the  great 
increase  in  the  production  of  copper  has  caused  the  relative  importance 
of  quicksilver  among  the  base  metals  of  California  to  diminish.  Tak- 
ing the  operations  of  the  first  half  of  1900  as  a  basis  of  estimation,  the 
output  of  quicksilver  for  the  year  1900  should  greatly  exceed  that  of 
any  of  the  four  years  preceding. 

In  1896  the  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist  showed  that  there  were 
11  productive  quicksilver  mines,  and  9  in  course  of  development,  20 
furnaces  being  in  operation,  and  altogether  about  700  men  employed. 

In  1900  there  were  19  productive  quicksilver  mines,  15  in  course  of 
development,  41  furnaces  in  operation,  and  about  1300  men  employed- 

PETROLEUM. 

The  minerals  grouped  under  this  head  include  asphaltum,  bituminous 
rock,  gas,  and  oil.  Table  No.  1  shows  that  during  the  past  four  years 
there  has  been  an  increase  of  more  than  78%  in  the  value  of  the  output 
of  these  minerals,  which  value  constitutes  about  11%  of  the  value  of  the 
entire  mineral  product  of  the  State. 


PROGRESS    OF    MINERAL    INDUSTRY    IN    CALIFORNIA.  9 

Table  No.  4  shows  the  absolute  and  relative  value  of  the  outputs  of 
asphaltum,  bituminous  rock,  gas,  and  oil  for  the  four  years  ending 
December,  1899. 

TABLE  No.  4.     PETROLEUM. 


1896. 

1897.             ! 

• 

1898. 

1899. 

Asphaltum 

Bituminous  Rock. 

Natural  Gas 

Oil 

$362,590 
122,500 
111,457 

1,180,793 

20.40% 
6.89 
6.27 

66.43 

$404,550 

128,173 

62,657 

1,918,269 

16.08%, 
5.09  i 
2.49    1 

76.32 

$482,175 

137,575 

74,424 

2,376,420 

15.70% 

4.48 

2.42 
77.39 

$308,130 

116,097 

05,000 

2,660,793 

9.68% 
3.65 
2.98 
83.67 

Totals 

$1,777,340 

$2,513,449 

$.^070..'SfU 

$3180020  < 

1 



From  the  foregoing  table  it  will  be  observed  that  the  great  increase  in 
the  value  of  the  output  of  petroleum  in  California  is  due  to  the 
increased  production  of  oil,  which  itself  constitutes  about  9%  of  the 
value  of  the  entire  mineral  output  of  the  State. 

The  records  obtained  show  that  the  production  of  petroleum  in  Cali- 
fornia has  increased  from  about  12,000  bbls.  in  1876,  to  nearly  2,500,000 
bbls.  in  1899,  and  the  production  for  1900  will  be  much  larger. 

The  rate  of  increase  during  the  four  years  ending  1899  was: 

1896 - - 1,257,580  bbls. 

1897 - - — .  1,900,000  bbls. 

1898 2,200,000  bbls. 

1899 2,400,000  bbls.  . 

In  1896  there  were  in  California  about  650  producing  wells  and  about 
100  prospect  wells. 

In  August,  1900,  there  were  about  1590  producing  wells  and  470 
prospect  wells;  also  10  oil  and  5  asphaltum  refineries. 

Petroleum  has  a  value  to  this  State  which  is  independent  of  its  price 
per  barrel;  this  value  arises  from  its  power  as  a  generator  of  industries 
which  could  not  exist  unless  a  cheap  and  suitable  fuel  was  available; 
and  this  power  when  exerted  in  our  own  State  becomes  a  permanent 
factor  in  our  commercial  economy. 

Nearly  all  the  oil-fields  which  at  this  writing  contribute  to  the  petro- 
leum output  of  California,  are  situated  below  the  17th  township  line 
south  of  Mount  Diablo;  this  line  is  a  little  north  of  the  latitude  of 
Visalia.  The  productive  oil-fields  in  the  portion  of  the  State  referred  to 
are  distributed  as  follows:  In  the  foothills  of  the  Sierras  near  the  eastern 
extremity  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley ;  on  the  eastern  slope  of  one  of  the 
Coast  Ranges  which  forms  the  western  boundary  of  the  San  Joaquin 
Valley,  and  in  other  localities  of  the  Coast  Ranges  which  traverse  Santa 
Barbara,  Ventura,  and  Orange  counties. 


10  STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  oil-yielding  formations  are  confined 
to  the  localities  enumerated,  for  they  constitute  a  large  portion  of  the 
mountains  composing  the  Coast  Range  system.  Moreover,  in  many 
places,  they  form  the  bedrock  beneath  the  alluvium  of  the  valley  land. 
It  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  wherever  these  oil-yielding  forma- 
tions are  found  they  contain  oil  in  valuable  quantities  any  more  than 
the  coal-measures  always  contain  valuable  beds  of  coal,  but  it  is  a  rea- 
sonable conclusion  that  there  are  in  California  numerous  areas  through 
which  these  formations  extend  wherein  new  oil- fields  will  be  discovered, 
and  these  remarks  apply  to  a  large  portion  of  the  State  which  lies 
between  the  Sierras  and  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

STRUCTURAL  MATERIAL. 

As  shown  in  Table  No.  1,  the  value  of  the  output  of  the  commodities 
classed  under  this  head  constitutes  about  8%  of  the  value  of  the  entire 
mineral  production  of  the  State.  The  most  important  of  these  commodi- 
ties are  brick  and  pottery,  the  value  of  which  in  1899  constituted  more 
than  a  third  of  the  total  value  of  the  structural  materials  produced  in 
California.  During  the  past  four  years  the  output  of  structural  mate- 
rials has  been  steadily  maintained,  and  the  production  of  brick  and 
pottery  shows  a  gradual  increase. 

OTHER  MINERALS. 

Reference  to  Table  No.  1  shows  that  during  the  past  four  years  the 
value  of  the  output  of  substances  classed  under  this  head  has  risen 
from  5.98%  to  8.42%  of  the  total  value  of  the  mineral  products  of  the 
State.  This  is  due  principally  to  the  increase  in  the  output  of  borax 
and  coal,  which  has  been  nearly  doubled  since  1896.  Of  the  group  of 
substances  under  discussion,  borax  constitutes  more  than  46%  and  coal 
more  than  17%  of  the  total  value. 

As  previously  stated,  the  value  of  the  total  mineral  output  of  Cali- 
fornia for  1899  was  $29,313,460.  This  shows  an  increase  of  more  than 
20%  over  the  value  of  the  mineral  output  for  1896,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  the  output  of  gold  had  declined  more  than  10%. 

There  are  six  substances  which  together  constituted  in  value  nearly 
87%  of  the  entire  mineral  product  of  California  for  the  year  1899. 
They  are  gold,  copper,  oil,  quicksilver,  borax,  and  clay. 

The  proportion  of  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  State  that  these  sub- 
stances individually  represent  is  as  follows: 

Gold 52.65% 

Copper - 13.61 

Oil 9.07 

Quicksilver 4.79 

Borax 3.88 

Clay  (Brick  and  Pottery) - 2.72 

86.72 


PROGRESS   OF    MINERAL   INDUSTRY    IN   CALIFORNIA.  11 

A  review  of  the  manuscript  of  the  General  Report  of  the  State  Min- 
ing Bureau,  which  is  awaiting  publication,  shows  that,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  gold  mining  has  been  greatly  retarded  by  the  lack  of  water 
consequent  upon  the  dry  winters  of  1897,  '98,  and  '99,  the  mining 
industry  has  advanced  along  the  lines  designated  in  this  bulletin,  and 
there  is  every  reason  to  expect  that  the  mineral  product  for  1900  will 
show  a  further  increase.* 

MINERAL  PRODUCTS  OF  COUNTIES. 

Alameda  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Alameda  County  are  salt, 
coal,  manganese,  and  structural  material.  The  total  value  of  the  mineral 
output  of  this  county  for  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was 
$1,255,888.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  salt  output  was  $432,730,  and 
of  the  coal  output,  $468,729.  Previous  to  1897,  there  had  been  prac- 
tically no  coal  mined  in  Alameda  County  for  several  years. 

Alpine  County. — This  county  is  surrounded  by  mineral-producing 
districts,  but  its  own  mineral  resources  have  not  been  extensively 
developed.  While  gold,  silver,  copper,  and  valuable  clays  are  found 
within  its  bounds,  yet,  in  July,  1900,  only  three  mines  (gold)  were  in 
operation. 

Amador  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Amador  County  are  gold 
and  silver,  coal,  copper,  marble,  and  pottery.  The  total  value  of  the 
mineral  products  of  this  county  for  the  three  years  ending  December, 
1899,  was  $4,812,336.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  gold  output  was 
$4,675,704.  In  the  spring  of  1900  there  were  about  thirty-seven  gold 
mines,  one  copper  mine,  fifteen  mills,  three  slimes  plants,  one  chlorina- 
tion  plant,  and  one  copper  smelter  in  active  operation. 

Butte  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Butte  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  and  structural  material.  The  total 
value  of  the  mineral  output  of  this  county  for  the  three  years  ending 
December,  1899,  was  $1,714,030.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  gold  out- 
put was  $1,668,379.  In  May,  1900,  six  quartz,  six  drift,  and  two 
hydraulic  mines  were  being  worked;  later  on,  extensive  dredging  enter- 
prises were  put  in  operation. 

Calaveras  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Calaveras  County  are 
gold  and  silver,  mineral  paint,  and  copper.  The  total  value  of  these 
products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $3,771,701.  Of 
this  sum  the  value  of  gold  output  was  $3,724,448.  In  April,  1900,  there 
were  twenty-five  quartz,  three  drift,  two  hydraulic,  and  two  copper  mines 

*The  returns  from  which  the  annual  statistical  bulletins  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau 
are  prepared  are  not  available  until  the  spring  succeeding  the  year  for  which  they  speak 
Therefore,  no  definite  estimate  of  the  mineral  output  of  California  for  1900  can  be  made 
in  this  bulletin. 


12  STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

in  operation;  also  thirteen  mills,  one  copper  smelter,  two  chlorination 
works,  one  cyanide  plant,  two  electric-power,  and  six  compressor  plants. 

Colusa  Covmty. — The  valuable  minerals  of  Colusa  County  are  found 
in  that  portion  of  the  Coast  Ranges  iVhich  forms  the  western  borders  of 
the  county.  These  minerals  are  quicksilver,  gold,  building-stone,  salt, 
and  mineral  water.  The  total  value  of  the  mineral  products  of  Colusa 
County,  exclusive  of  building-stone,  for  the  three  years  ending  Decem- 
ber, 1899,  was  $5,803.  In  September,  1900,  three  quicksilver  mines  were 
in  operation,  and  prospect  wells  were  being  drilled  for  oil. 

Contra  Costa  County.— The  mineral  products  of  Contra  Costa  County 
are  coal,  mineral  water,  and  brick.  During  1900  interest  has  been  mani- 
fested in  the  oil-yielding  formations  of  the  county.  The  value  of  the 
total  mineral  products  of  Contra  Costa  County  for  the  three  years  ending 
December,  1899,  was  $382,933.  Of  this  amount  the  value  of  the  coal  was 
$350,133.  In  September,  1900,  two  coal  mines  were  in  operation.  The 
largest  smelter  and  refining  plant  in  California  is  situated  at  Vallejo 
Junction,  on  the  south  shore  of  Carquinez  Straits.  A  copper  smelter  has 
also  been  erected  near  Martinez. 

Del  Norte  County. — The  mineral  product  of  Del  Norte  County  is  gold, 
which  during  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  amounted  to 
$30,217.  Recently  there  has  been  some  attention  paid  to  the  copper 
mines  of  this  county,  and  shipments  of  ore  are  reported. 

El  Dorado  County. — The  mineral  products  of  El  Dorado  County  are 
gold  and  silver,  lime,  stone,  and  slate.  The  total  value  of  the  mineral 
products  of  this  county  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was 
$1,622,958.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  gold  product  was  $1,581,089. 
In  the  spring  of  1900  there  were  twenty  quartz  mines,  two  drift  mines, 
and  one  copper  mine  in  operation;  also  thirteen  mills  and  one  cyanide 
plant. 

Fresno  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Fresno  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  coj^per,  petroleum,  gypsum,  brick,  and  mineral  water.  The  total 
value  of  the  mineral  products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899? 
was  $812,625.  The  gold  and  copper  mines  are  in  the  eastern  portion  of 
Fresno  County,  which  extends  into  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains.  In 
March,  1900,  there  were  five  gold  and  four  copper  mines  in  operation, 
and  numerous  other  claims  on  which  assessment  work  was  being  done. 
The  petroleum  industry  is  the  most  important  mineral  industry  in  Fresno 
County.  The  oil-fields  are  situated  in  the  foothills  of  that  portion  of  the 
Coast  Ranges  which  is  situated  in  the  western  borders  of  the  county* 
In  September,  1900,  there  were  eight  companies  producing  oil  in  Fresno 
County,  and  many  prospect  wells  were  being  drilled.  The  value  of  the 
petroleum  product  of  Fresno  County  for  the  three  years  ending  Decem- 
ber, 1899,  was  $664,212. 


PROGRESS   OF    MINERAL    INDUSTRY    IN   CALIFORNIA.  13 

Glenn  County. — There  is  practically  no  mining  in  this  county. 

Humboldt  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Humboldt  County  are 
gold  and  silver,  mineral  water,  and  structural  material.  The  total  value 
of  these  products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was 
$883,113.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  rubble  rock,  used  principally  in 
the  harbor  construction,  was  J{?651,623.  Copper  prospects  have  been  dis- 
covered, but  there  are  no  productive  mines.  During  1900,  six  companies 
have  prospected  for  petroleum,  and  some  oil  has  been  struck. 

Inyo  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Inyo  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  lead,  copper,  soda,  borax,  and  marble.  The  total  value  of  the 
mineral  products  of  Inyo  County  for  the  three  years  ending  December, 
1899,  was  $1,247,696.  Of  this  amount  the  value  of  the  output  of  gold 
was  $411,134;  and  of  the  output  of  soda,  $514,000.  In  July,  1900,  there 
were  thirty-two  gold  and  silver  mines  and  one  borax,  one  salt,  and  one 
soda  works  in  operation. 

Kern  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Kern  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  borax,  antimony.  Fuller's  earth,  asphaltum,  petroleum,  coal,  lime, 
and  brick.  The  total  value  of  the  mineral  products  of  Kern  County  for 
the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $3,088,543,  and  of  this 
amount  the  value  of  the  gold  product  was  $2,635,657.  The  mineral 
deposits  of  Kern  County  are  distributed  not  only  throughout  the  crys- 
talline rocks  of  the  higher  mountains,  but  also  through  the  sedimentary 
formations  which  form  the  foothills  bordering  the  valley  lands.  The 
mineral  deposits  of  the  crystalline  rocks  are  represented  by  the  gold 
mines  of  the  Kern  River  basin,  and  of  the  Caliente  District  in  that  portion 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  which  lies  to  the  north  of  Tehachapai; 
and  by  the  mines  of  Randsburg  District,  which  lies  to  the  south  of  that 
range.  Some  good  prospects  have  also  been  discovered  near  Rosamond? 
a  short  distance  from  the  southern  boundary  line  of  the  county.  There 
are  also  deposits  of  antimony  and  copper.  The  mineral  deposits  of  the 
sedimentary  rocks  are  those  of  petroleum  which  have  been  discovered 
in  the  Tertiary  rocks  forming  the  foothills  on  both  sides  of  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley;  indeed,  these  discoveries  may  be  said  to  be  the  most 
important  events  in  the  mining  history  of  California  for  the  years 
1899-1900.  During  the  past  five  years  the  most  important  feature  in 
gold  mining  in  Kern  County  has  been  the  growth  and  development  of 
the  Randsburg  District,  although  there  has  of  late  been  an  increased 
activity  among  the  mines  of  older  districts  which  had  previously  been 
idle  for  many  years.  The  deposits  of  petroleum  before  referred  to  are 
those  of  the  Kern  River  District,  on  the  eastern  side,  and  of  the  McKit- 
trick  and  Sunset  districts  on  the  western  side  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley. 

Kirigs  County. — The  only  mineral  production  of  Kings  County  is 
brick,  $20,000  worth  of  which  were  manufactured  in  the  two  years  end- 


14  STATE    MINING   BUREAU. 

ing  December,  1899.  In  the  western  borders  of  the  county  oil-yielding 
formations  are  exposed  throughout  extensive  areas,  and  several  prospect 
wells  have  been  drilled. 

Lake  County, — The  mineral  products  of  Lake  County  are  quicksilver 
and  mineral  water.  The  total  value  of  these  products  for  the  three  years 
ending  December,  1899,  was  $517,330.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  out- 
put of  quicksilver  was  $327,471. 

Lassen  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Lassen  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  the  total  output  of  which  during  the  three  years  ending  Decem- 
ber, 1899,  had  a  value  of  $116,608. 

Los  Angeles  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Los  Angeles  County  are 
gold,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth,  petroleum,  building-stone,  brick,  pottery, 
and  mineral  water.  The  total  value  of  these  mineral  products  for  the 
three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $5,108,895.  Of  this  sum  the 
value  of  the  petroleum  output  was  $4,199,238.  During  the  past  three 
years  the  oil-fields  of  this  county  have  yielded  more  than  half  the  entire 
petroleum  output  of  the  State  of  California.  Although  gold  mining  has 
been  carried  on  for  many  years  in  Los  Angeles  County,  the  output  of 
precious  metals  has  always  been  small. 

Madera  County. — The  eastern  portion  of  Madera  County  extends  into 
the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  and  is  largely  devoted  to  mining.  The 
mineral  products  consist  of  gold  and  silver,  copper,  granite,  and  brick. 
The  total  value  of  the  mineral  products  of  Madera  County  for  the  three 
years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $387,954.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of 
the  output  of  gold  was  $254,605.  Madera  County  is  the  second  largest 
producer  of  granite  in  the  State,  the  value  of  the  total  amount  of  granite 
produced  during  1897,^98,  '99  being  $122,888.  In  1900  there  were  twenty 
gold  mines  and  one  copper  mine  in  operation,  and  there  are  a  large 
number  of  mines  on  which  assessment  work  is  being  done.  Copper 
mining  promises  to  be  an  important  industry  in  Madera  County,  nnd  a 
100-ton  smelter  has  been  erected  at  Madera. 

Marin  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Marin  County  are  brick, 
macadam,  and  rubble  rock.  The  total  value  of  the  mineral  products  for 
the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $245,150.  During  1900 
there  were  some  shipments  of  copper  which  are  said  to  have  yielded 
satisfactory  returns.     There  was  also  some  prospecting  for  petroleum. 

Mariposa  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Mariposa  County  are 
gold  and  silver,  and  slate.  The  value  of  these  products  for  the  three 
years  ending  December,  1899,  svas  $1,355,134.  Of  this  amount  the 
value  of  the  output  of  gold  was  $1,350,674.  In  August,  1900,  there 
were  ten  quartz  mines  and  one  hydraulic  mine  in  operation,  also  three 
stamp  mills  and  one  compressor  plant. 


PROGRESS   OF   MINERAL   INDUSTRY   IN   CALIFORNIA.  15 

Mendocino  County. — The  only  contribution  that  Mendocino  County 
has  made  during  the  past  four  years  to  the  mineral  output  of  California 
is  bituminous  rock,  mineral  water,  and  brick.  There  are,  however, 
deposits  of  coal  and  other  minerals  which  are  not  worked.  There  has 
also  been  some  prospecting  for  oil  at  Point  Arena.  The  value  of  the 
mineral  output  of  Mendocino  County  for  the  two  years  ending  December, 

1899,  was  $12,118. 

Merced  County. — Merced  County  is  for  the  most  part  devoted  to 
agriculture.  The  only  mining  reported  is  some  placer  mining  on  the 
Merced  River. 

Modoc  County. — More  than  half  the  surface  of  this  county  is  covered 
with  lava  and  volcanic  ejecta.  It  is  probable  that  the  volcanic  material 
covers  rocks  containing  valuable  minerals,  for  prospects  of  gold,  copper, 
and  other  minerals  are  reported. 

Mono  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Mono  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  lead  and  lime.  The  total  value  of  these  products  for  the  three 
years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $1,867,457,  of  which  sum  $1,663,187 
represented  the  value  of  the  output  of  gold.  In  June,  1900,  there  were 
thirteen  gold  mines  and  four  cyanide  plants  in  operation. 

Monterey  County. — The  minerals  produced  in  Monterey  County 
during  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  were  mineral  waters, 
stone,  brick,  and  asphaltum.  The  total  value  of  the  products  for  the 
three  years  mentioned  was  $38,693.  In  1900  there  was  considerable 
prospecting  for  petroleum,  and  some  oil  was  struck  in  the  Cholame 
Valley.  In, the  autumn  of  1900  the  coal  mines  in  Stone's  Cailon,  near 
the  eastern  line  of  the  county,  were  reopened. 

Najpa  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Napa  County  are  quicksilver, 
mineral  water,  and  magnesite.  The  total  value  of  the  naineral  products 
of  Napa  County  during  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was 
$1,812,754.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  output  of  quicksilver  was 
$1,531,047.  In  the  spring  of  1900  there  were  four  quicksilver  mines  in 
operation. 

Nevada  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Nevada  County  are  gold 
and  silver,  copper,  mineral  paint,  and  granite.  The  total  value  of  these 
products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $6,200,069.  Of 
this  amount  the  value  of  the  output  of  gold  was  $6,074,389.     In  April, 

1900,  there  were  about  seventy  active  mines,  twenty-three  stamp  mills, 
one  combined  smelter  and  chlorination  plant,  twenty-nine  concen- 
trators, two  chlorination  works,  one  canvas  plant,  one  slimes  plant,  one 
Huntington  mill,  six  compressed-air  plants.  Nevada  County  is  the 
leading  gold  and  silver  producer  in  the  State,  and  in  the  past  three 
years  has  produced  considerable  copper. 


16  STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

Orange  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Orange  County  are  petro- 
leum, coal,  gold,  and  brick.  The  total  value  of  these  nlinerals  for  the 
three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $189,677.  Of  this  sum  the  total 
value  of  the  petroleum  output  was  $180,077.  In  May,  1900,  eight  com- 
panies were  producing  oil  in  Orange  County. 

Placer  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Placer  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  granite,  and  pottery  clay.  The  total  value  of  the  minerals  for 
the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $4,291,974  ;  of  which  sum 
the  value  of  the  gold  output  was  $4,113,044.  The  forthcoming  report 
shows  twenty-two  mines  and  about  fifteen  granite  quarries  in  active 
operation.     There  are  four  stamp  mills. 

Plumas  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Plumas  County  are  gold 
and  silver,  the  output  of  which  during  the  three  years  ending  Decem- 
ber, 1899,  was  $1,090,728.  In  May,  1900,  there  were  in  operation  twenty- 
seven  quartz,  nine  drift,  six  placer,  four  hydraulic,  and  two  copper 
mines. 

Riverside  County. — The  mineral  products  of  this  county  are  gold  and 
silver,  mineral  paint,  asbestos,  quartz  sand,  coal,  salt,  pottery,  brick,' 
granite,  and  lime.  The  total  value  of  these  products  during  the  three 
years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $707,892.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of 
the  gold  output  was  $499,425.  In  the  spring  of  1900  there  were  nine- 
teen mines  on  which  more  or  less  work  was  being  done,  several  of  which 
were  in  active  and  continuous  operation. 

Sacramento  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Sacramento  County 
are  gold,  granite,  natural  gas,  macadam,  paving-blocks,  mgirble,  brick, 
and  pottery.  The  total  value  of  these  products  for  the  three  years  end- 
ing December,  1899,  was  $566,856.  Of  this  amount  the  value  of  the 
gold  product  was  $266,257.  The  gold  mines  are  in  the  vicinity  of 
Folsom,  where  there  were  more  than  nine  placer  and  drift  mines  in 
operation  in  September,  1900.  The  granite  quarries  are  at  Folsom 
Prison. 

San  Benito  County. — The  mineral  products  of  San  Benito  County  are 
quicksilver,  mineral  water,  gypsum,  oil,  asphaltum,  lime,  macadam,  and 
coal.  The  total  value  of  these  products  for  the  three  years  ending  Decem- 
ber, 1899,  was  $661,503.  Of  this  amount  the  value  of  the  quicksilver 
output  was  $570,185.  In  1900  several  new  quicksilver  mines  and  one 
copper  mine  were  opened.  In  September  of  that  year  more  than  twenty 
companies  were  prospecting  for  petroleum,  with  satisfactory  results. 

San  Bernardino  County. — The  mineral  products  of  San  Bernardino 
County  are  gold  and  silver,  copper,  borax,  cement,  lime,  brick,  granite, 
stone,  paving-blocks,  and  marble.  The  value  of  the  total  product  of 
these  minerals  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $4,816,- 


PROGRESS   OF    MINERAL    INDUSTRY    IN   CALIFORNIA.  17 

283.  Of  this  amount  the  value  of  the  output  of  borax  was  $3,306,000, 
and  of  the  output  of  gold  $526,484.  In  April,  1900,  there  were  thirty- 
seven  quartz,  five  copper,  and  five  borax  mines  in  operation. 

San  Diego  County. — The  mineral  products  of  San  Diego  County  are 
gold  and  silver,  lead,  copper,  salt,  lithia  mica,  granite,  rubble  rock,  and 
mineral  water.  The  total  value  of  these  products  for  the  three  years 
ending  December,  1899,  was  $1,702,201.  Of  this  amount  the  value  of 
the  output  of  gold  was  $1,599,174.  In  the  spring  of  1900  there  were 
twenty-two  quartz  mines,  at  which  work  was  more  or  less  actively 
prosecuted,  apd  one  copper  mine  had  been  opened. 

San  Francisco  County. — The  mineral  products  of  San  Francisco 
County  are  brick,  macadam,  and  rubble  rock.  The  total  value  of  the 
mineral  output  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $520,006. 
In  October,  1900,  there  were  three  brick  yards,  and  three  quarries  in 
operation. 

San  Joaquin  County. — The  mineral  products  of  San  Joaquin  County 
are  natural  gas,  brick,  and  manganese.  The  total  value  of  these 
products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $282,580.  Of 
this  amount  the  value  of  the  output  of  natural  gas  was  $199,580.  In 
January,  1900,  there  were  ten  productive  gas  wells  in  the  city  of  Stockton. 

San  Luis  Obispo  County. — The  mineral  products  of  San  Luis  Obispo 
County  are  gold,  quicksilver,  copper,  bituminous  rock,  asphaltum, 
granite,  rubble  rock,  marble,  brick,  and  mineral  water.  The  total  value 
of  these  products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $180,- 
831.  In  August,  1900,  there  were  four  quicksilver  mines  in  operation, 
and  several  companies  were  prospecting  for  oil,  but  no  remunerative 
wells  had  been  obtained. 

San  Mateo  County. — The  mineral  products  of  San  Mateo  County  are 
rubble,  brick,  and  macadam.  The  total  value  of  these  products  for  the 
three  years  ending  December, ^1899,  was  $175,225.  In  1898-99,  prospect 
wells  were  drilled  for  oil  in  San  Mateo  County,  and  some  of  them  pro- 
duce small  quantities  of  oil  of  remarkably  low  gra^vity. 

Santa  Barbara  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Santa  Barbara 
County  are  gold,  asphaltum,  natural  gas,  brick,  and  mineral  water. 
The  total  value  of  these  products  for  the  three  years  ending  December, 

1899,  was  $1,272,694.  Of  this  amount  the  value  of  the  output  of 
asphaltum  was  $790,560,  and  of  the  oil  output,  $433,973.     In  June, 

1900,  practically  all  the  productive  oil-wells  were  at  Summerland.  The 
asphaltum  is  obtained  from  the  mines  owned  and  controlled  by  the 
Alcatraz  Asphalt  Refining  Company,  and  from  the  Goleta  Asphalt  Mine, 
owned  by  J.  F.  Moore. 


18     ^  STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

Santa  Clara  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Santa  Clara  County 
are  quicksilver,  mineral  water,  oil,  asphaltum,  brick,  limestone,  macadam, 
manganese,  magnesite,  and  pottery.  The  total  value  of  the  mineral  prod- 
ucts for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $1,028,588.  Of 
this  amount  the  value  of  the  quicksilver  output  (all  from  Almaden 
Mine)  was  5^590,470;  and  of  the  brick  output,  $340,945.  The  oil-fields 
of  Santa  Clara  County  are  situated  in  its  western  borders. 

Santa  Cruz  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Santa  Cruz  County  are 
lime,  bituminous  rock,  limestone,  sandstone,  macadam,  gold,  and  granite. 
The  total  value  of  the  mineral  output  for  the  three  years  ending  Decem- 
ber, 1899,  was  $764,969.  Santa  Cruz  County  produces  nearly  if  not 
quite  as  much  lime  as  is  produced  in  all  the  other  counties  of  the  State 
and  leads  in  the  production  of  bituminous  rock.  During  the  first  half 
of  1900  there  was  some  prospecting  for  oil  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  county. 

Shasta  County. — The  mineral  products  of  this  county  are  copper,  gold 
and  silver,  structural  material,  and  mineral  waters.  The  total  value  of 
these  products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $8,861,448. 
Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  copper  output  was  $6,030,853;  and  of 
the  gold  output,  $2,302,970.  In  1897,  Shasta  County  advanced  to  the 
position  of  the  leading  mineral  producer  of  the  State,  and  in  1898  and 
1899  not  only  maintained  but  largely  increased  its  lead.  Until  1897, 
the  chief  mineral  products  of  Shasta  County  were  gold  and  silver;  in 
that  year  copper  was  added,  and  to  the  production  of  that  metal  the 
increasing  of  the  total  output  was  chiefly  due. 

Sierr-a  County. — The  mineral  products  of  this  county  are  gold  and 
silver.  The  total  value  of  the  output  of  these  products  for  the  three 
years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $1,220,310,  and  of  this  amount  the 
value  of  the  gold  output  was  $1,219,386.  In  July,  1900,  there  were  in 
Sierra  County  forty-five  quartz,  twenty-two  placer,  eighteen  drift,  and 
ten  hydraulic  mines,  most  of  which  were  in  active  operation. 

Siskiyou  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Siskiyou  County  embrace 
gold,  silver,  copper,  mercury,  chromic  iron,  and  building  material,  the 
chief  industry  of  this  county  being  gold  and  silver  mining.  The  total 
value  of  these  products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was 
$2,603,153.  •  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  gold  output  was  $2,602,698. 

Solano  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Solano  County  are  quick- 
silver, lime,  paving-blocks,  macadam,  rubble  rock,  aragonite,  mineral 
waters,  and  pottery.  The  total  value  of  the  mineral  output  of  Solano 
County  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $68,848.  Nearly 
half  of  this  amount  was  represented   by  the  value  of  the  output  of 


PROGRESS   OF    MINERAL    INDUSTRY    IN    CALIFORNIA.  19 

macadam.  No  output  of  quicksilver  was  reported  for  1899,  but  in  that 
year  the  St.  John^s  quicksilver  mine,  near  Vallejo,  which  had  been  idle 
for  nearly  twenty  years,  was  reopened. 

Sonoma  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Sonoma  County  are  quick- 
silver, magnesite,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  macadam,  paving- 
blocks,  granite,  and  rubble  rock.  The  total  value  of  these  products 
during  1897,  '98,  '99  was  $395,836.  Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  quick- 
silver output  was  $228,980.  In  the  spring  of  1900  there  were  three 
quicksilver  mines  in  active  operation, 

Stanislaus  County. — As  is  well  known,  this  county  is  principally 
devoted  to  agriculture.  The  mineral  products  are  gold  and  mineral 
paint,  and  in  1899  three  quicksilver  mines  near  the  Santa  Clara  line 
were  reopened.  The  value  of  the  mineral  products  of  Stanislaus  County 
during  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $73,284. 

Sutter  County. — No  mineral  products  are  reported  from  Sutter  County. 

Tehama  County. — Very  little  mining  is  being  done  in  this  county. 
There  are,  however,  extensive  deposits  of  chromic  iron  near  the  western 
boundary  of  the  county  and  good  prospects  of  gold  and  copper  are  reported 
from  its  borders.  The  mineral  products  of  Tehama  County  consist  of 
mineral  waters  and  brick,  the  value  of  the  total  output  for  the  three 
years  ending  December,  1899,  being  $31,600. 

Trinity  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Trinity  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  quicksilver,  and  granite.  The  total  value  of  these  products  for 
the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $2,834,325.  Of  this  sum 
the  value  of  the  gold  output  was  $2,528,137;  of  the  quicksilver  output, 
$304,154.  In  point  of  numbers  the  placer,  hydraulic,  and  drift  mines 
of  Trinity  County  far  exceed  the  quartz  mines,  but  in  the  past  three  or 
four  years  there  has  been  increased  development  of  quartz  mines  and 
several  have  proved  very  remunerative. 

Tulare  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Tulare  County  are  gold  and 
silver,  copper,  chrysoprase,  granite,  lime,  and  brick.  The  value  of 
these  products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $59,254, 
the  value  of  the  gold  being  $38,840.  In  February,  1900,  there  were 
eight  gold  and  three  copper  mines,  at  which  more  or  less  work  was 
being  done. 

Tuolumne  County. — The  mineral  products  of  this  county  are  gold  and 
silver  and  brick.  The  total  value  of  the  output  of  these  products  for 
the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $5,219,883,  the  value  of  the 
gold  output  being  $5,180,294.  In  August,  1900,  there  were  twenty-two 
mines  in  operation,  eighteen  stamp  mills,  three  ^electric  plants,  three 


20  STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

chlorination  works,  five  cyanide  plants,  two  slimes  plants,  four  com- 
pressor plants;  estimated  number  of  men  engaged  in  active  mining, 
about  1100. 

Ventura  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Ventura  County  are  gold, 
borax,  petroleum,  asphaltum,  and  brick.  The  total  value  of  these 
products  for  the  three  years  ending  December,  1899,  was  $1,635,795. 
Of  this  sum  the  value  of  the  petroleum  output  was  $1,435,482.  In 
June,  1900,  there  were  about  206  productive  wells  in  Ventura  County, 
and  numerous  prospect  wells  were  being  drilled.  In  1898  valuable 
deposits  of  borate  of  lime  were  discovered  in  Lockwood  Valle}-  in  the 
eastern  borders  of  the  county. 

Yolo  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Yolo  County  are  brick  and 
sandstone.  The  total  value  of  the  sandstone  output  for  the  two  years 
ending  December,  1899,  was  $768.  In  1900,  the  quicksilver  mines  in 
the  western  borders  of  the  county  were  reopened. 

Yuba  County. — The  mineral  products  of  Yuba  County  are  gold  and 
silver.  The  value  of  these  products  for  the  three  years  ending  December, 
1899,  was  $498,442.  Of  this  amount  the  value  of  the  output  of  gold  was 
$498,430.  In  May,  1900,  there  were  four  quartz,  two  placer,  and  one 
hydraulic  mine  in  operation;  dredge  mining  is  also  reported. 


PROGRESS   OF    MINERAL    INDUSTRY    IN   CALIFORNIA. 


21 


AREA  OF  COUNTIES,  AND  TOTAL  VALUE  Of   MINERAL  PRODUCTS  FOR  THE  THREE 
YEARS  ENDING  DECEMBER,  1899. 


County. 


Approximate 

Area. 
Square  Miles. 


Value 
of  Mineral 
Products. 


Alameda 

Alpine... 

Amador 

Butte ---  . 

Calaveras.- J 

Colusa. 

Contra  Costa 

Del  Norte 

El  Dorado 

Fresno 

Glenn 

Humboldt 

Inyo 

Kern 

Kings 

Lake 

Lassen... 

Los  Angeles 

Madera 

Marin 

Mariposa 

Mendocino 

Merced 

Modoc 

Mono 

Montery 

Napa 

Nevada 

Orange 

Placer _. 

Plumas 

Eiverside 

Sacramento 

San  Benito 

San  Bernardino  . 

San  Diego 

San  Francisco ... 

San  Joaquin 

San  Luis  Obispo. 

San  Mateo 

Santa  Barbara... 

Santa  Clara 

Santa  Cruz 

Shasta 

Sierra 

Siskiyou 

Solano 

Sonoma _. 

Stanislaus 

Sutter 

Tehama 

Trinity 

Tulare 

Tuolumne 

Ventura 

Yolo 

Yuba 

Unapportioned*. 


840 

575 

568 
),764 

990 
1,202 

750 
1,546 
1,891 
5,940 
1,248 
3,507 
10,224 
8,159 
1,267 
1,332 
4,750 
3,957K 
2,140 

516 
1,580 
3,460 
1,750 
4,097 
2,796 
3,450 

800 

958 

780 
1,484 
2,361 
7,008 
1,007 
1,476 
20,160 
8,800 
42 
1,370 
3,5C0 

470 
2,450 
1,355 

425 
4,050 

910 
6,078 

911 
1,540 
1,486 

611 
3,200 
3,276 
4,935 
2,232 
1,850 
1,017 

625 


157,456K 


$1,255,888 


4,812,336 

1,714,030 

3,771,701 

5,803 

382,933 

30,217 

1,622,958 

812,625 

""883,113 

1,247,696 

3,088,543 

20,000 

517,330 

116,608 

5,108,895 

387,954 

245,150 

1,355,134 

12,118 


1,867,457 

38,693 

1,812,754 

6,200,069 

191,377 

4,291,974 

1,090,728 

707,892 

566,856 

661,503 

4,816.283 

1,702,201 

520,006 

282,580 

180,831 

175,225 

1,272,694 

1,028,588 

764.969 

8,861,448 

1,220,310 

2,603,153 

68,848 

395.836 

73,284 


31,600 

2,834.325 

59,254 

5,219,883 

1,635,795 

768 

498,442 

2,680,022 


$81,744,980 


*  Unapportioned  includes  products  of  single  mines,  etc..  In  counties  so  as  to  conceal  their 
identity,  and  also  includes  estimates  of  products  of  properties  known  to  be  working,  bdt  from 
which  no  returns  were  obtained. 


THIS    BOOK    IS    DUE    ON    THE    LAST    DATE 
STAMPED   BELOW 


'      f  f^     Oil  ^  *f. 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN  THIS  BOOK 
ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY  WILL  INCREASE  TO 
50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH  DAY  AND  TO  $1.00  ON  THE 
SEVENTH  DAY  OVERDUE. 


NOV  6     W 


DC  DAVIS  -  IfJIERLIBRARY  LOAN 
SENT 

PT 


GCT  -7  1981  ' 

DUE  21  DAY5  AFTER  RECE 


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Book  Slip-:i0(it-7,'5G(C7CU64)4oS 


